You can buy a new Chrysler, Dodge or Ram in Kalamazoo again

Courtesy of the Zeigler Auto GroupThis rendering shows what the Zeigler Auto Group's Chrysler, Dodge, Ram franchise should like when it's completed on Stadium Drive.

KALAMAZOO — The Zeigler Automotive Group began selling new Chrysler, Dodge and Rams vehicles today.

That ended a two-year hiatus for the sales of new models of those vehicles in Kalamazoo.

The business began selling the car lines out of its BMW store at 4201 Stadium Drive, “and we're going to temporarily operate out of there until Sept. 1 and then move into our brand new facility next door,” said company President Aaron Zeigler.

The Zeigler Automotive Group expects to begin construction soon of a 24,000-square-foot building to house the Chrysler, Dodge and Ram franchises on the former Ground Round restaurant property at 3939 Stadium Drive. That is immediately east of the dealership's main Stadium Drive location.

The Ground Round closed on May 28 of 2010. The Zeigler group acquired it and has demolished the restaurant building.

Aaron Zeigler and his father, Harold Zeigler, announced sweeping plans in November to increase their holdings in Kalamazoo and suburban Chicago, more than doubling the volume of cars they sells in the Kalamazoo area.

View full sizeCourtesy of the Zeigler Auto GroupThis rendering shows what the Zeigler Honda franchise may look like when it is completed later this year on Stadium Drive.

That included acquiring the rights to the Chrysler, Dodge and Ram franchises following Chrysler LLC's decision in May 2009 to terminate 789 of its Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep franchise agreements as it reorganized in bankruptcy.

The Maple Hill Auto Group previously sold Chrysler in the Kalamazoo area. M&M Motor Mall previously sold Dodge and Ram. Jeep was sold by the Orrin B. Hayes dealership in downtown Kalamazoo, which has reacquired the rights to do so.

Aaron Zeigler said that about 80 of the 550 vehicles the dealership currently has on its Stadium Drive car lots are now Chryslers, Dodges and Rams. Along with BMWs, the business also sells Honda, Lincoln and Mitsubishi vehicles on Stadium Drive.

“We wanted people to know they don't have to drive out of town to buy a Chrysler, Dodge or Ram, or get service work and warrantee work,” he said, “and we can also do service and warrant work on Jeeps.”

The Orrin B. Hayes dealership is in the process of renovating facilities it owns on the opposite side of Stadium Drive to become the area's Jeep sales franchise.

Aaron Zeigler said plans are underway to convert space on the west side of the main Stadium Drive location into a 26,000-square-foot facility to house the Honda franchise. In December, the Zeigler group also acquired the Kalamazoo-area Honda franchise from M&M Motor Mall.

The multiple expansion plans called for adding about 200 jobs, including 125 new jobs here. Aaron Zeigler said about 80 of those local jobs have been filled.

The auto group is adding to the number of automobile franchises it owns and operates Southwest Michigan, northern Indiana and southeastern Illinois — from the 32 it had in 11 locations at the start of the year, to 38 franchises in 14 locations in coming months.

— Al Jones can be reached at ajones@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-8556.